Valve-controlling mechanism.



P L WORMBLEY.

VALVE CONTROLLING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION IILED JUNE 26, 1909 951 1 68. Patented Mar. 8, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

llll- P. L. WORMELEY.

VALVE OOHTROLLING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED 1mm 26, 1909.

Patented Mar.8, 1910.

UNITED STATE T ATENT @FFTQE.

PHILIP LIGI-ITFOOT WORMELEY, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

VALVE-CONTROLLING MECHANISM.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PHILIP LIGHTFOOT \VORMELEY, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at lVashington, District of Columbia, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Valve-Controlling Mechan isms, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to valve controlling mechanisms, and moreparticularly to interlocking devices whereby the opening or closing ofone valve locks another valve against movement, and vice versa.

More particularly, the object of my invention is to provide aninterlocking device which will prevent the possible formation of anexplosive mixture of gas and air in the apparatus used in themanufacture of water-gas, and through which there is an alternate flowof gas and air.

In order to produce a suitable temperature in the apparatus, air isforced through the fuel in the generator and the products of combustionpass through the carbureter, superheater, and out through the stackvalve. For the production of water-gas, the blast valves and stackvalves are closed, steam is forced through the incandescent fuel in thegenerator, and the gas thus formed passes through the carbureter andsuper-heater, and thence through the lateral opening just below thestack valve, to the condensers.

The object above referred to is accom plished by interlocking the stackvalve with one or more of the blast valves in such a way that theopening of any one of the blast valves, locks and prevents the closingof the stack valves, so long as the said blast valve remains open orpartially open; and the closing of the stack valve locks and preventsthe opening of any one or more of the blast valves, so long as the stackvalve remains closed or partially open.

Vith these objects in view, and such others as may hereinafter appear,my invention consists in the novel construction and combination of thevarious parts which will be pointed out and fully described in the apzpended claims.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification :-Figure 1 is anelevation showing a common form of water-gas apparatus, provided with aninterlocking device embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an en-Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 26, 1909.

Patented Mar. 8, 1910.

Serial No. 504,598.

larged view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 isa plan view of the device shown in Fi 2, with the fork to revolved 90degrees to the left. Fig. i is a modified form of abutment member, andFig. 5 is a modified form of stirrup or guide. Fig. 6 shows theinterlocking device bolted to roof truss and connecting the stack valvewith carbureter and superheater blast valves.

a is a water-gas generator, connected to the carbureter b by the pipes dand e; f and 9 being valves in the pipes (Z and e by which either may beclosed. The pipe 71, connects the carbureter b and superheater 0. Thestack valve 2' at the top of the superheater c, revolves about thehorizontal shaft 7', being operated by the actuating lever on inconnection with the rods 70 and Z. WVater-gas passes through the sideopening a when the stack-valve i is closed. The air-blast pipe 0 hasbranches p and g, and the blast valves 9, T and 1 control the admissionof air to the chambers a, b, and a respectively. The blast valves 1, rand r are operated by the levers s .9 and 8 which are connected to thevalve stems or rods 2?, t and t respectively. The rod a has one endpivoted to the lever m (or to any other mechanism such as a hydraulicpiston, used to actuate the stack valve 2') and passes through asuitable bearing 4), the construction being such that the rod u movesdown or up, according as the stack valve 2' is being opened or closed bythe actuating lever m. To the rod u are pivoted by means of the fork w,arms 00*, 00 and x and to the valve stems t t and F, are pivoted similararms y if and 3 respectively, these arms being pivotally connected tothe ends of the rods 2 e and 2 respectively, which latter are eachpivotally connected to one of the arms 00 m and x Just above the arms 33 and 3 and m m 09 are abutment members having curved portions a a a anda the same being bent so as to form inclined surfaces b 5 b and b, whichact as guides or deflecting members for the ends of said arms, at whichends may be provided small wheels or rollers if desired. The members a aand a are curved substantially in the arcs of circles whose radii areequal in length to the respective arms y 3 and g plus necessaryclearance; and the member a is similarly curved with respect to the armsx m and 00 These abutment members are so placed that whenever one of thevalves 1"", r or r is closed, its respective arm 3 y or 3 is in positionto swing into engagement with its abutment member (4 a or (4 and as longas said arm and member are in engagement, the valve will be preventedfrom opening. Cooperating with the arms 3 p and y are stirrups or guides0 and 0 against which these arms rest when in the position shown in Fig.2. These stirrups may be provided with roller bearings if desired. Inthis position said arms are clear of the locking portions of theirrespective abutments and the valves 1-, r and are free to open. 011 theopening of any one of said valves by the upward movement of its valvestem, the arm slides along the deflecting member 6 b or b which isinclined at an angle to the respective curved portion of the abutment,and is deflected outwardly from the valve stem with which it isconnected. It now the valve is moved again to closed position, the armengages with the adjacent stirrup or guide, and is thereby moved towardthe valve rod and finally into position to be swung beneath the curvedportion of its abutment. The members tr and 6* and the stirrup or guidea are similarly arranged with respect to the arms :0 and 00, except thatin this case the arrangement is such that whenever the arms are inengagement with the member a the stack valve i is locked in an openposition, and whenever said arms are swung clear of said member, andinto position for engagement with the member 6*, the valve 2' is free toclose by an upward movement of the actuating lever m and the rod a. Itwill be noted further that the controlling mechanism for the valve 1' isreversely arranged with respect to that for the other three valves, andthat the arms :0 m and w are connected by rods .2 and a with the armsy", 1 and 3 respectively, in such a manner that when the arms a, @12 mare in engagement with the curved por' tion a of the abutment, the armsy 1 are in engagement with the inclined portions 6 b 6 of theirrespective abutments. Similarly when the arms m 03 m are in engagementwith the member the other arms are in engagement with the curved lockingportions of their abutments. As a result of this arrangement, wheneverthe arms m :0 a) are deflected outwardly by the member 12* on theclosing of valve 2, the arms g y yy are all deflected inwardly, theirconnected valves being locked in closed posi tion. Similarly when anyone of the arms y, if, 3 is deflected outwardly on the opening of itsvalve, the respective arm 00 m or m is deflected inwardly toward the rodu,

and the valve 2' is locked in open position.

c', the ends of arms :0 01 and a) will im mediately come in contact withand glide along the guide member thus throwing the ends of arms 12 g andg under the abutment members a a and. a respectively. If now an attemptbe made to open any one oi. the blast valves, say a, the end of arm 3will come in contact with the abutment member a and make such. movementimpossible. If new the stack valve 2 is opened by lowering lever at,arms a, and a will be guided to their original positions by the stirrupor guide 0, and arm y will assume its former position as indicated. infull lines (Fig. 2). It is now possible to raise any one or all of theblast valves r 9' and r but by raising any one of these valves, say a,the corresponding arm if will immediately come in contact with and glidealong the guide member 6 thus throwing the end of arm a under theabutment member a Now if an attempt be made to close the stack valve 2'by raising lever m, the end of arm x will come in contact with theabutment member a and make such movement in'ipossible.

In the modified form of abutment shown in Fig. 4, the angular deflectingmember shown in the other figures is replaced by the roller This rolleris pivoted at a point adjacent to the end of the locking member a, andit will readily be seen that when the arm disengages the locking portionof the abutment and the valve is moved, said arm will engage the rollerand be deflected. in substantially the same manner as in the form shownby the other figures. It will be understood that in this form the rollerconstitutes the deflecting member.

In the modified form of stirrup or guide shown in Fig. 5, the v shapedmember c is adapted to receive the pin or lug (Z which is attached tothe horizontal rod 2. It is evident from the figure that the member 0cooperating with the pin or lug 4Z performs substantially the samefunctions as the stirrups shown in Fig. 2.

While l have described my invention as applied to the manufacture ofwatergas, I do not limitmyself to such application, nor

to the precise details of construction set i.

forth herein. The device is capable of use in various relations forcontrolling valves that are used for different purposes, and I do notlimit myself solely to its use in connection with gas generators. lit isalso to be understood that the device is applicable to valves and valvestems arranged in any relative positions, and is not limited to anarrangement where the valve stems are parallel as shown. The exact formof the inter lockin mechanism is evidently susceptible of wide variationwithin the scope of my invention, and the desired motion may be takeneither directly from the valves, or from parts of the apparatusactuating, or

actuated by the said valves- Such variations are found necessary to meetthe varying conditions of different installations.

IVhat I claim is 1. In an interlocking valve mechanism, the combinationwith valves and a rod connected with each valve, of an arm pivotallyconnected with each of said rods, a crossrod pivotally connected withsaid arms, and abutment members located adjacent to said arms andcooperating therewith to lock one valve in open position while the otheris being moved to open or closed position, substantially as described.

2. In an interlocking valve mechanism the combination with valves and arod connected with each valve, of an arm pivotally connected with eachof said rods, a crossrod pivotally connected with said arms, andabutment members located adjacent to said arms and cooperating therewithto lock one valve in closed position while the other is being moved toclosed or open position, substantially as described.

3. In an interlocking valve mechanism, the combination with valves and arod connected with each valve, of an abutment member located adjacent toeach of said rods, an arm pivotally connected with each of said rods andadapted in one position of the rod to swing into position to engage aportion of its respective abutment member and lock its valve againstmovement, and a cross-rod pivotally connected with said arms and of suchlength that when either one or said arms is in position to engage thelocking portion of its abutment the other arm is disengaged from itsrespective locking member and its valve is free to move, substantiallyas described.

4. In an interlocking valve mechanism, the combination with valves and arod connect ed with each valve, of an abutment member located adjacentto each of said rods and constructed with a curved locking portion, anarm pivotally connected with each of said rods and adapted in oneposition of the rod to swing into position to engage the member and lockits valve against movement, and a cross-rod pivotally connected withsaid arms and of such length that when either one of said arms is inposition to engage the locking portion of its abutment the other arm isdisengaged from its respective locking member and its valve is free tomove, substantially as described.

5. In an interlocking valve mechanism, the combination with valves and arod connected with each valve, of an arm pivotally connected with eachof said rods, an abutment member adjacent to each of said rods andconstructed with a locking portion curved substantially in the arc of acircle whose radius is approximately equal in j length to the adjacentarm, said arm being adapted in one position of the rod to swing intoposit-ion to engage said curved portion and look its respective valveagainst movement; and a cross-rod pivotally connected with said arms andof such length that when either one of said arms is in engagement withthe locking portion of its abutment the other arm is disengaged from itsrespective locking member and its valve is free to move, move,substantially as described.

6. In an interlocking valve mechanism the combination with valves and arod connected with each valve, of an abutment member located adjacent toeach of said rods, each of said abutment members being constructed witha curved locking portion and a deflecting member arranged at an angle tosaid locking portion, an arm pivotally connected with each of said rodsand adapted in one position of the rod to swing into position to engagethe locking portion of its respective abutment and look its valveagainst movement, and a cross-rod pivotally connected with said arms andof such length that when one arm is in engagement with the lockingportion of its abutmentthe other arm is in position to engage thedeflecting member on its respective abutment and its valve is free tomove, substantially as described.

'7. In an interlocking valve mechanism, the combination with valves anda rod connected with each valve, of an abutment member located adjacentto each of said rods, each of said abutment members being constructedwith a curved locking portion and a deflecting member, an arm pivotallyconnected with each of said rods and adapted in one position of the rodto swing into position to engage the locking portion of its respectiveabutment and lock its valve against movement; a cross-rod pivotallyconnected with said arms and of such length that when one valve is movedfrom its locked position its connected arm engages the defleeting memberand forces the other arm into locked position, and means for guiding lcurved portion of 1ts respective abutment said first arm to its originalposition on a reverse movement of the valve, substantially as described.

8. In an interlocking valve mechanism, the combination with valves and arod connected with each valve, of an abutment member located adjacent toeach or" said rods, each of said abutment members being con structedwith a curved locking portion and a deflecting member, an arm pivotallyconnected with each of said rods, and adapted in one position of the rodto swing into position to engage the locking portion of its respectiveabutment and lock its valve against movement, a cross-rod pivotallyconnected with said arms and of such length that when one valve is movedfrom its locked position its connected arm engages the deflecting memberand forces the other arm into locked position, and a stirrup cooperatingwith said first arm to guide the same to its original position on areverse movement of the valve, substantially as described.

9. In a gas generator the combination with the stack valve for takingoil the prod ucts of combustion and an air valve for admitting air tothe apparatus of a rod connected with each valve, an abutment memberadjacent to each of said rods, an arm pivotally connected with saidstack valve rod and adapted in one position of the rod to swing intoposition to engage a portion of its respective abutment member andlocksaid valve in open position, an arm pivotally connected with saidair valve rod and adapted in one position of said rod to swing intoposition to engage a portion of its respective abutment member and lockits valve in closed position, and a cross-rod pivotally connected withsaid arms and of such length that when either of said arms is inposition to engage the locking portion of its respective abutment, theother arm is out of position to engage its respective locking member,and its valve is free to move; whereby the stack valve is locked in openposition at all times except when said air valve is closed and said airvalve is locked in closed position at all times except when said stackvalve is open, substantially as described.

10. In a gas generator, the combination with the stack valve for takingoff the products of combustion and a plurality of air valves foradmitting air to the apparatus, of a rod connected with each of saidvalves, an abutment member adjacent to each of said rods, a plurality ofarms pivotally connected with said stack valve rod and each adapted inone position of the rod to swing into position to engage a portion ofthe re spective abutment member and lock said valve in open position,said arms being equal in number to the number of air valves, an armpivotally connected with each of said air valve rods and adapted in oneposition of the respective rod to swing into position to engage aportion of its respective abutment member and look its valve in closedposition, and a plurality of cross-rods respectively connecting each ofsaid air valve arms with one of the arms on the stack valve rod, saidcross-rods being of such length that when either of the connected armsof a pair is in position to engage the locking portion of its respectiveabutmentthe other arm is out of position to engage its respective locleing member, whereby the stack valve is locked in open position at alltimes except when all of said air valves are closed, and all of said airvalves are locked in closed position at all times except when said stackvalve is open, substantially as described.

11. In an interlocking valve mechanism, the combination with valves anda rod connected with each valve, of a plurality of arms pivotallyconnected with one of said rods, an arm pivotally connected with each ofsaid other rods, cross-rods pivotally connected with the arms on saidfirst named rod and with said other arms, abutment members locatedadjacent to said arms and cooperating therewith to lock the valveconnected with said plurality of arms, in open position while any of theother valves is in other than closed position, substantially asdescribed.

12. In an interlocking valve mechanism, the combination with valves anda rod connected with each valve, of a plurality of arms pivotallyconnected with one of said rods, an arm pivotally connected with each ofsaid other rods, cross-rods pivotally connected with the arms on saidfirst named rod and with said other arms, abutment members locatedadjacent to said arms and cooperating therewith to lock the valvesconnected with said last named arms in closed position at all timesexcept when the other valve is open.

PHILIP LIGHTFOOT WORMELEY. lVitnesses FRED. H. BROWN, E, R. Ronny.

